Apple’s headset comes in handy in health space

When Apple unveiled its Vision Pro, the extended reality headset last year, not many would have thought it would be of use in the healthcare space too. From bariatric surgery to even while operating on the spine, doctors across the world are trying their hands on the device for improved outcomes.

At a hospital in New Delhi recently, the Vision Pro was used for bariatric surgery for a first-of-a-kind surgery, which lasted for 40 minutes, on a 45-year-old patient, who weighed 155 kg and had high blood pressure and obstructive sleep apnea. Here, the device offered an immersive 3D environment allowing the team of doctors to see the complicated anatomical structures with clarity.

 
“The successful integration of Apple Vision Pro into bariatric surgery marks a significant milestone in our journey towards revolutionising surgical procedures,” said Dr Vaibhav Kapoor, co-founder, Pristyn Care, where the surgery was performed. “The successful use of Apple Vision Pro in these complex procedures opens up new possibilities in surgical precision and patient outcomes,” said Dr Mohit Bhandari, a leading bariatric surgeon, who performed the procedure, as per media reports.

At Chennai’s GEM Hospital, too, surgeons have been equipped with the Apple Vision Pro for laparoscopic surgeries. “There is no delay in transmission. I had a better vision and was connected to the real world. Whatever I can see on the monitor that displays the laparoscopic surgery can be viewed on this device, too,” surgical gastroenterologist and COO of GEM Hospitals Dr R Parthasarathy was quoted as saying by a media house. “In addition, if I want to view a CT scan, I can simultaneously see it in the device itself. I can enlarge the view of the patient’s internal organs to the size of a wall and see them in the greatest detail,” he said and further highlighted the benefits especially when it comes to seeking experts’ opinion while carrying out the procedure. “We can use the device to FaceTime with experts and even teach medicine. More than anything else, we don’t have to suffer from neck pain after long surgeries,” the expert highlighted.

Outside India, a group of surgeons in Brazil last month, used the headset during a shoulder arthroscopy. In another significant advancement, the Vision Pro was used during a delicate spine surgery done at the Cromwell Hospital in the United Kingdom. Here, instead of the surgeon, the nurse wore the headset, offering crucial support, media houses reported. The nurse, Suvi Verho, termed the tech a “game-changer” and highlighted its ability to eliminate guesswork along with human error during the surgery, as per reports. At the same time, surgeon Syed Aftab emphasised on the assistance provided and compared the experience to that when collaborating with a seasoned professional.

In another case in Florida, USA, the headset was used in a shoulder-joint replacement procedure.

Here, the Vision Pro apps are crucial, some of which are touted as revolutionary when it comes to the medical tech space, and help in everything from mental health support to surgery planning.

For example, Stryker’s myMako app, which helps with surgical planning by offering surgeons minute surgical plan details in a 3-D native form. Then there is Siemens Healthineers’ human anatomy both for clinical and educational purposes.

There is also Cedars-Sinai’s Xaia, which offers AI-powered conversational mental health support along with meditation in a virtual world.

“At Apple, we believe technology can play an important role in the evolution of healthcare,” said Sumbul Desai, MD, Apple’s vice-president of health, in an Apple release. “With the ability to transform a user’s space, display 3D objects at life-size, and see all relevant data in one view, the opportunities for health developers to use Apple Vision Pro to help improve procedural planning, education, and outcomes are limitless,” Desai added. Unveiled last year and priced at $3,499, the Apple headset is designed such that one can toggle between the real and digital worlds, and offers utilities spanning work, communication, entertainment.

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